Not long after Ages left.
An elderly man walked into the Marine recruitment office with a little boy who had rosy cheeks and big, watery eyes sparkling with innocence.
The little boy showed his adorable little fang as he spoke in a childish voice.
"Grandpa, is that big brother really here?"
The elderly man affectionately rubbed the boy's head and said kindly.
"Yes, Xiaodouzi. That big brother told me he was coming here to sign up for the Marines."
The old man was none other than the passenger ship's captain, John.
"Then let's hurry, Grandpa! It would be bad if we missed him. I want to thank him properly for saving you!"
Xiaodouzi eagerly tugged on Captain John's hand and hurried into the Marine recruitment office.
After Xiaodouzi and Captain John entered, the Marine corporal noticed them and hurried over, puzzled.
"Dad, what brings you and Xiaodouzi here?"
As soon as Xiaodouzi saw the corporal, he threw himself at him, wrapped his arms around his neck, and said cheerfully.
"Father, Grandpa and I are here to find someone."
Seeing how lively and innocent Xiaodouzi was, the corporal's usually cold face broke into a rare smile. He pinched Xiaodouzi's soft, rosy cheek and smiled.
"Oh? You're looking for someone? Who?"
"Mm-hmm, we're looking for a savior."
"A savior? What happened?" The corporal frowned at Xiaodouzi's answer.
"Father, did you know? Grandpa was attacked by a Sea King on his voyage this time. He almost didn't make it back."
At this point, Xiaodouzi's big, watery eyes grew misty. Still frightened by the thought, he gripped John's large, rough hand tightly with his little one.
The corporal's eyes widened. He hurried to John's side, feeling him all over and looking him up and down as he asked worriedly.
"Dad, are you hurt?! Damn it, why didn't those little bastards tell me you'd been attacked?"
Seeing the concern and worry on the corporal's face, John felt a flash of relief. He patted the corporal on the shoulder and said softly.
"Son, I told your men not to inform you. I was afraid you'd be too worried to think straight. Besides, you still have to handle Marine recruitment. Don't worry, I'm fine. If something had really happened to me, could I have survived the Sea King's attack?"
"Then, Dad, Xiaodouzi said you came here to find your savior. Could it be...?" Only after seeing that John was fine did the corporal breathe a sigh of relief. Then he suddenly spoke.
John nodded. He still felt a lingering fear as he recalled the Sea King attacking the bridge, and said with relief.
"Fortunately, Ages was on the ship at the time. Otherwise, I reckon everyone aboard would have been buried in the sea."
John reached over to pat Xiaodouzi on the head and continued cheerfully.
"So, when I got back, I told Xiaodouzi what happened, and he insisted on thanking Ages. I heard Ages say he'd be coming to enlist, so I brought Xiaodouzi here."
"That's right! I want to thank Brother Ages for saving Grandpa. Father, did you see Brother Ages while you were recruiting?" Xiaodouzi chimed in.
As the corporal listened to John, his frown grew deeper and deeper. After a long while, he said in shock.
"Brother Ages??... Dad, the Ages you're talking about-could he be a boy?"
Seeing the corporal's shocked expression, John thought it only natural and smiled.
"Hehe, surprising, isn't it? My savior turned out to be a boy, and a ten-year-old one at that."
"Son, don't be fooled by his age. He's stronger than you. Do you know how he killed the Sea King? He..."
Captain John described the stunning scene of Ages killing the Sea King. When he reached the part about the bloody fireworks, he grew especially excited, instantly turning into an Ages fan. He heaped all kinds of praise on Ages, making him sound like a god.
As the corporal listened to John's account, his mouth never closed. It hung wide open, and the word "shock" might as well have been written across his face.
When John finished, the corporal suddenly remembered what had happened not long ago. He slapped his own head and shouted.
"Damn it!! I let a 'god' get away!! Fuck!"
Time rewound to when Ages left the Marine recruitment office.
After leaving the Marine recruitment office, Ages propped a hand under his chin and thought all the way, saying to himself.
What kind of pirate should I capture? Since I'm going to capture one, I should get a strong one. That way, I'll have a better chance of getting into the Marines.
But where should I go to capture a pirate? The East Blue is so big. Which pirates are stronger?
Looks like I need to find a place where information gets around.
After thinking it over, Ages stopped a random passerby on the road and asked.
"Excuse me, ma'am, do you know if there's a bar around here?"...
After finding out where the tavern was, Ages headed there without delay.
A long while later...
It was a bar with an old sign hanging over the entrance. The sign had grown somewhat battered with age and hung crookedly above the door. All sorts of clamor and the clinking of glasses came from inside.
"This place should have the information I want..."
Ages had now reached the entrance. He looked up at the bar's sign, muttered to himself, and walked in.
Ages came to the bar's half-closed door, where the smell of smoke and alcohol filled the air and rushed into his nose. He frowned slightly, pushed the door open, and entered.
The smell of cigarettes and alcohol hung everywhere inside the noisy bar. Groups of all sorts of people had gathered in threes and fives, chatting about everything under the sun. Every so often, they clinked their glasses and drank in great, unrestrained gulps.
Feeling the uninhibited atmosphere inside, Ages raised the corner of his mouth and nodded inwardly. It seemed he had come to the right place.
Bars like this, full of all kinds of people, were generally the places where news traveled fastest.
(P.S. Please give me flowers, add this to your collections, leave reviews, and send tips! Lengyue shamelessly begs you on my knees! T^T)